Bare minutes passed after entering the Old Wood before Cael began to feel as though he were being watched. It was an itch between his shoulder blades that made him want to shrug, despite the shield that protected him. It was as if he merely waited for an arrow shaft to sink in deep. Whether the other men felt it to, or picked up on Cael's own feelings, no one's eyes stopped anywhere for long. The Old Wood was dark and dangerous, with ancient and massive trees, in addition to thick undergrowth. At last they passed onto an old game trail, but the sensation remained.
Time was difficult to tell within the Wood. It was never exactly light, with the sun blocked out by layer upon layer of dense leaf cover. That also prevented looking at the sun for time, or getting a direction. The game trail twisted and turned, each tree soon looking exactly like the one before. Were they going in circles? Were they trapped in a curse of the forest?
Cael refused to believe in such things. As a leader, he was to be a beacon of strength and confidence that his men could draw upon. Besides, they never came across their own tracks left in the snow, and he simply chose not to be superstitious about the curse. They had a mission, one he would see through.
A sound from behind drew everyone's attention. It was no more than the snapping of a twig, but they were all on edge and wary. Before anything could be done about it, however, Cael's attention was drawn back to the path they had been riding on. Towering some twenty feet, a woman blocked the way. She hadn't been there before, and no…person that large could have moved so swiftly without a sound. It was one of the witches. It had to be.
"Who are you? Why do you trespass on such hallowed ground?" The woman asked sternly, her brow drawn down and eyes drilling them on the spot. Her voice boomed through the forest, echoing off of trees and seeming to come from every direction at once. It took Cael a moment to find his voice; when he spoke, however, it was strong and confident. He met the massive woman's gaze, unflinching.
"I am Cael Malthasar, First Prince of Malthus, and I seek those who are said to inhabit these woods. The Aes Sedai."
The woman's gaze held for a moment longer, then seemed to soften a hair. Cael could only assume it was due to his peaceful mission. The fact he did not call them witches had to help as well. Her voice no longer boomed when she spoke.
"Well, so-called Prince, you have found them. Pray to the Light that your reasons for disturbing the Coven are deemed worthy."
With that, the woman was of a normal size. She did not shrink; she simply went from being massive one instant, to being normal, even a little short, in the next. Cael did not think she would quite reach his shoulders. The woman wore a slender red gown, cut to accentuate her decently sized bosom. A length of the fabric ran from her back to a ring on either of her middle fingers, reminding Cael of a bat's wing, though it was not stretched taunt. It was merely a decoration. He couldn't help but notice the snake eating its own tail on the finger next to it. She was Aes Sedai, one of those that could wield the full might of the Power without any hindrance or oath. Had he been a threat, he was sure she could have destroyed them all with ease.
"Come, follow me. I will escort you to the Hall."